When state governments in Australia decentralized many administrative responsibilities to schools in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was assumed that they would develop fresh management, development, and governance capacities. In general, such decentralization attempted to replace bureaucracies with corporate management, limit school evaluation…

In California, major proposals involving radical changes for workforce development and preparation have been developed and could have considerable impact on the authority, accountability, and fiscal management of the vocational education programs and services offered by the state's community colleges. These initiatives include the development of a…

Developed to help colleges enhance the effectiveness of their institutional research efforts, this workbook provides strategies for increasing effectiveness and examples of techniques and research from Maryland's Prince George's Community College (PGCC). First, an introduction summarizes the changing responsibilities of institutional research and…

In 1990 the Kentucky General Assembly passed one of the most comprehensive and innovative reform laws in the nation, the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Under this law, schools must meet state-defined goals to receive financial rewards. This paper presents findings of a 6-year, field-work study of education reform in four rural Kentucky…

This guide is intended for use by college or university administrators or departmental chairs responsible for implementation of educational outcomes assessment and institutional effectiveness evaluation processes. An introductory chapter explains the guide's purpose, defines key terms in assessment terminology, and explains the institutional…

As of November 1996, at least 25 states had passed charter-school legislation empowering agencies of state government to enter into agreements with private individuals and groups to operate public schools. This is a guidebook for government agencies given the power to permit individuals and groups to operate autonomous public schools under state…

Fiscal year 1995 marks the first year during which an independent audit was conducted of the U.S. Department of Education's financial statements. This first annual accountability report describes the department's history, current mission, priorities, and progress. It highlights the department's program and fiscal accomplishments and describes…

Recent debates regarding the crisis in American education have led to two essentially contradictory positions: one calling for a movement away from a unified concept of education toward a concept which recognizes and incorporates diversity; and the other calling for increased accountability on all levels of education. The purpose of this paper is…

This paper defines site-based budgeting as a tool for restructuring schools through meaningful participation. It also describes the legal dimensions of site-based budgeting, with an emphasis on Texas. The following legal principles are discussed: public oversight of public dollars, deregulation of governmental powers, equal protection,…

Idaho's "Schools 2000 and Beyond--An Action Plan for Idaho" report (1992) identified 12 strategies for improving student performance in its elementary and secondary schools. One of them, a "transition to a performance-based system," suggests a process that first describes what students ought to learn and how they should be able…

This report examines the origins, development, content, and implementation of state-level policies that were designed to establish or strengthen educational accountability and effectiveness in the 15 states that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). It provides state-by-state profiles of legislation and policies, explaining…

This report examines the origins, development, content, and implementation of state-level policies that were designed to establish or strengthen educational accountability and effectiveness in the 15 states that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). It provides tables outlining the context and content of such initiatives in…

This book provides a brief historical review of outcomes assessment in higher education and a general guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating assessment programs. Chapter 1 provides several definitions of commonly used terms and a review of the major actors and the political context. It identifies factors contributing to the recent push…

These hearing transcripts present testimony concerning the proposed Improving America's School (IAS) Act of 1993, which embodies the Clinton Administration's program for transforming the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Testimony was heard from U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, accompanied by Marshall Smith, Under…

Papers from an Equity Study Group are compiled to give a real-world look at an evolving school system. The Equity Study Group was formed by the New York State Board of Regents to investigate how the allocation of resources contributes to the disparity in outcome for New York school children. The following papers are included: (1) "Educational…